Designer Courtney Rogers knew right away that she needed to redo the master bathroom layout after buying an Atlanta townhome.
“You were welcomed into the bathroom by the toilet,” she said. “It was not a very pretty entry.”
Rogers, named one of Professional Remodeler magazine’s 40 Under 40 for 2014, used her design know-how to make spaces more usable, efficient and chic in her first place, while staying within a budget. She reconfigured the bathroom layout, moving the toilet and putting an antique vanity front and center.
“Being in the design field, you learn to appreciate a lot of different design styles because you’re dealing with a lot of different clients,” she said. “Seeing a lot of their spaces come together really inspires me. How can I incorporate that into my house?”
Snapshot
Resident: Courtney Rogers, senior project designer with Renewal Design Build; she blogs at acleardesign.blogspot.com
Location: Atlanta
Size: About 1,600 square feet, three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths
Year built: 2001
Year bought: 2012
Architectural style: Traditional
Renovations: She refinished the hardwood floors on main level, added new carpet upstairs and upgraded the lighting. In the kitchen, she rearranged existing cabinets to accommodate a new peninsula and brought in granite countertops, some appliances and backsplash. "Your backsplash can make a big difference," she said. "It's kind of like the jewelry of the kitchen." In the master suite, she relocated a wall to expand the bedroom and walk-in closet, replacing the tub, tile and vanity. A new countertop and plumbing fixtures were added to the vanity in another bathroom.
Cost of renovations: $15,000
Design consultants: Rogers was her own designer, but credits her mom, Theresa Rogers, for managing the six-week renovation process by meeting with trade professionals at the home.
Interior design style: Transitional
Favorite room: The family room, where she incorporated windows from her childhood home. "I definitely look at them with fondness. It's nice to have a story behind some things that are in there. It's not a typical thing that you would hang on the wall," she said.
Favorite piece of furniture: Master bathroom vanity from Scott Antique Markets
Favorite outdoor feature: The back patio. She used plumbing pipes to create a curtain rod and added a striped curtain to enhance the private and cozy feel.
Favorite DIY project: The two-story stairway is highlighted by a stencil that Rogers applied herself. The stencil, from Royal Design Studio, is a couple of shades darker than the wall color, with a semi-gloss sheen.
Decor tip: Use items for new purposes. A shipping pallet can become a display piece, or plumbing pipes can be used as a curtain rod.
Resources: Furniture from Scott Antique Markets, Rooms to Go, Restoration Hardware, Macy's and HomeGoods, Ballard Designs. Other items from Wellborn Cabinetry, Inman Park Marble and Granite, Lowe's and Kohler
